congregation

noun

con·​gre·​ga·​tion ˌkäŋ-gri-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce congregation (audio)
1
a
: an assembly of persons : gathering
especially : an assembly of persons met for worship and religious instruction
b
: a religious community: such as
(1)
: an organized body of believers in a particular locality
The pastor delivered a lengthy sermon to the congregation.
(2)
: a Roman Catholic religious institute with only simple vows
a congregation of nuns
(3)
: a group of monasteries forming an independent subdivision of an order
2
: the act or an instance of congregating or bringing together : the state of being congregated
3
: a body of cardinals and officials forming an administrative division of the papal curia

Did you know?

The verb congregate may be used for spontaneous gatherings. A crowd quickly congregates at the scene of an accident, for example, just as cows, sheep, or horses tend to congregate during a storm. And under military rule, citizens are often forbidden to congregate on street corners or anywhere else. But a congregation is generally a group that has gathered for a formal purpose, usually in church. The Congregational Church was originally the church of the Puritan settlers, in which each congregation governed its own church independent of any higher authority.

Examples of congregation in a Sentence

The priest addressed the congregation. She is a member of a small congregation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The congregation doesn’t have a permanent home, instead renting a modest brick church along a busy road near University of the Pacific. Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 27 Feb. 2025 The grants could be a lifeline for Black churches struggling with dwindling congregations, a lack of resources and aging infrastructures, said Jason Williams, professor of Justice Studies at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025 The wife of a Minnesota missionary killed in the African country of Angola last year has been charged with his murder, the lead pastor of the Lakes Area Vineyard Church in Detroit Lakes confirmed in a letter to his congregation. Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2025 Roughly half of its congregation consist of immigrants, according to court papers. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for congregation

Word History

Etymology

see congregate entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of congregation was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Congregation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/congregation. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

congregation

noun
con·​gre·​ga·​tion ˌkäŋ-gri-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce congregation (audio)
1
: a gathering or collection of persons or things
2
a
: an assembly of persons gathered especially for religious worship
b
: the members of a church or synagogue

More from Merriam-Webster on congregation

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